Dehradun: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Monday launched a pilot project named "Unnati" aimed at improving English communication skills among students of government-run secondary schools.

Inaugurating the project at the Rajkiya Inter College, Ajabpur Kalan, he said education is meaningless if it does not equip the future generation to survive the challenges of today's highly competitive world.

Promising full monetary support for the project, Rawat said it will be reviewed after three months and if the results are satisfactory, the programme will be made an?integral part of the state's education system.

State Education Minister Mantriprasad Naithani said that a package of three months has been prepared for the students of government schools so that they may not feel hesitant in speaking English, which is the need of the hour.

"Hindi, Garhwali, Kumauni languages have their own importance but knowledge of good English is necessary for the bright future of children today," Naithani said.